After ransom, pirates free UAE-owned ship held captive for nearly 2 years, crew still held

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A pirate commander in Somalia says that a cargo ship was freed after being held captive for nearly two years.

Hassan Abdi said Saturday that a $600,000 ransom was paid for the MV Orna on Friday. But he said six hostages are still being held by the pirates on land. Pirates shot and killed one of the ship's crew members in August over delayed ransom payments.

Abdi said that other ships towed the vessel away because it had run out of fuel.

The MV Orna, which is owned by a UAE company, was hijacked 400 nautical miles northeast of the Seychelles in December 2010.

Indian Ocean pirate hijackings are down drastically this year thanks to improved on-board defenses, but pirates still hold six ships and some 170 crew members.